Summary:
This analysis examines three middle schools serving grades 6-8 in zip code 78043 (Laredo, TX), split between the Laredo Independent School District (Isd) and the United Independent School District (Isd), with a high level of economic disadvantage across all schools.
United South Middle stands out as the top performer, ranking in the 71st percentile statewide and showing consistent improvement. It excels in 8th Grade Math (78.26% proficient) and Algebra I (100% proficient), significantly outperforming district and state averages. Lamar Middle is the most improved school, jumping from the 29th to the 51st percentile in just two years, though it still struggles in 7th Grade Math (8.15% proficient). Raul Perales Middle has the highest spending per student ($10,691) but ranks lower than United South Middle, which achieves better results with fewer resources ($8,988 per student). All three schools achieve near-perfect or perfect Algebra I proficiency rates (96.3%-100%), nearly double the state average of 54%, suggesting strong advanced math instruction. However, 7th Grade Math is a consistent weakness, with Lamar Middle's 8.15% proficiency rate being a critical concern. Additionally, 8th Grade Social Studies is a universal weakness, with all three schools falling below the state average of 31.69% proficiency.
Key takeaways include the "Algebra I anomaly" as a gateway to success, the "7th Grade Math dip" as a curriculum challenge, and an inverse relationship between spending and performance at United South Middle versus Raul Perales Middle. The schools also maintain very low dropout rates (0.0% at United South Middle and Raul Perales Middle), and Lamar Middle has a lower student-to-teacher ratio (14.7) but the lowest academic performance, indicating smaller class sizes alone do not guarantee success.
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